UN threatens to suspend humanitarian aid operations in Gaza unless security improves

Top officials of United Nations They have said Israel That Aid operations will be suspended total LoopUnless urgent measures are taken Better protect humanitarian workers Two UN

The organization sent a letter to senior Israeli officials this month. Among other steps, the Middle East country is a member of the UN. It indicated that employees should be allowed Contact directly with Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, officials explained.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing negotiations with Israeli officials. They said no final decision had been made on suspending operations in Gaza and that negotiations with the Israelis were ongoing. The Israeli military has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Israel has acknowledged some military attacks against humanitarian workers, including the one carried out in April. Seven people died workers World Central Kitchen, At the same time, he has denied the accusations of others.

World Food Programme of the United Nations (WFP) already exists Suspended Its aid exports from a US-built dock in Gaza for security reasons.

UN And other aide officials have been complaining for months that they don’t have it No way to communicate To protect humanitarian workers against militant attacks in conflict zones around the world, as opposed to the usual practice of de-confliction, directly and quickly with Israeli forces.

UN and aid workers are also complaining about the increase Anarchy in Gaza, and has urged Israel to do more to improve the overall security of its operations.

“Missiles hit our facilities even though they were in non-conflict zones“WFP warehouses have come under fire twice in the past two weeks,” said Steve Taravella, a spokesman for WFP, one of the main agencies sending humanitarian aid to Gaza.

He Risk of famine Reports from the United Nations had already warned in March that this continued after limited humanitarian aid. World Health Organization (WHO).

The agency noted that 2.15 million Palestinians in Gaza suffer from high or high levels of food insecurity, according to data updated by various UN organizations in the Integrated Classification of Food Security Status report.

A 22% People are affected Extreme conditions On food insecurity, the report adds, it renews its pledge to declare famine in May if there is no cease-fire in Gaza in March.

Since then, WHO said in a statement, “Food and services reaching northern Gaza have alleviated the suffering of people in the area. Humanitarian access is very limited.

At the same time, the situation in the southern Strip has deteriorated significantly as fighting in the area has escalated since last month.

“The blockade of the Rafah border crossing and access problems at the Karem Shalom border have further restricted humanitarian aid access to nearly two million people in the south,” the United Nations health agency said.

The high concentration of displaced people in the region has worsened sanitation and hygiene conditions, and increased the risk of epidemic outbreaks. Disastrous consequences” WHO added.

“Only an end to hostilities and immediate, unimpeded and sustained access to humanitarian aid can reduce the risk of famine in Gaza,” the Geneva-based organization concludes.

(With information from AP and EFE)